Vacuum breaker



VACUUM BREAKER Filed July 30, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS FIG-I y 'i INVENTOR fl HENRY J. LUFF BY /b Dec. 3, 1935. H. J. LUFF 2,023,178

VACUUM BREAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 50, 195s INVENTOR HENRY J. LUFF Patented Dec. 3, 1935 PATENT OFFICE VACUUM BREAKER Henry J. Lufl, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, assignor to Mary A. M. Lufl, Cleveland Heights, Ohio Application July 30, 1935, Serial No. 33,859

'13 Claims.

This invention relates to vacuum breakers for plumbing applications. The purpose of such-a breaker is to prevent back siphonage of waste water into the flush water supply line, such as might otherwise occur in an emergency occasioning a vacuum in the supply line. Such occurrence would obviously result in serious contamination of the fresh water supply as will be appreciated by one familiar with the art.

An object of the invention is to provide a de- -vice which may be added to an old installation, by insertion between the fiush' valve of the flush water supply line and the closet or like plumbing fixture served by the line under control of the valve. Another object is to provide a device for the purpose which shall be without moving parts and consequently entirely sure of operation.

The worst condition to be met by such a device, is one wherein there is overflow or otherwise abnormally high water level in the fixture, such as might be caused by stoppage in the waste line, coincident with a sudden high vacuum in the fiush water supply line occurring during the flushing operation.

A further object of this invention is to provide that the device will function properly even under such extreme condition.

The exact nature of this invention together with further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a typical sectional elevation of an embodiment of the invention; Figs. 2 and 3 are transverse sections of the same, as respectively in the planes of lines Z-Z and 33 of Fig. 1, the sectional plane of Fig. 1 being indicated by the line I-I of Fig.2; Fig. 4 is a conventionalized elevationpartly in section, showing an assembly of parts illustrative of the use of the device; Figs. 5, 6, and '7 illustrate a modified form of the device, being views corresponding to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 respectively.

With reference now to Figs. 1 to 4 of the drawings, the vacuum breaker comprises a housing adapted for connection at its upper end with the flush water supply line A of the plumbing fixture and at its lower end for connection with the plumbing fixture itself, such as the closet B, Fig. 4. The breaker housing as here shown is assembled in three parts: a cover I arranged for threaded connection with the supply line A as illustrated, a-pipe 2 adapted for connection with the plumbing fixture B, and an intermediate part 3 interconnecting the parts I and 2 in a rigid assembly, as by the threaded relations indicated in Fig. 1. The part 3 is enlarged to provide a chamber 4 of substantial volume and comprising an enlargement of the flush water passage through the housing. The chamber 4 is vented to atmosphereby large openings provided in the cover 5 member I, as indicated at la, the cover member including an apron part I?) overhanging these vent openings.

Means are provided for dividing the passage through the housing into a main flush water passage and an auxiliary passage. Such means are .here shown as a generally tubular member having a straight section 5 of somewhat smaller diameter than that of the pipe 2, thus providing a central main passage 6 with an auxiliary passage I disposed armularly thereabout and including the chamber 4. The member 5 is here shown as mounted by securement in a head 8 disposed at its upper end, having the perforations 9, and peripherally secured between the cover member I of 20 the housing and the adjacent terminating part of the supply line A. The tubular means 5 is supported at its opposite and lower end, as here shown, by a. member Ill threaded thereupon and perforate as at II and loosely fitting within the pipe 2. This member I 0 if employed, has a downward taper as indicated in Fig. 1, the arrangement being 'such that the parts at the lower end of the tubular member may act with injector efiect whereby a flushing stream within the main passage 6 will induce confluence in the auxiliary passage I. A baflle member I2 shown as of conical form, may be provided on the tubular member. to oppose reverse flow in the auxiliary passage. The member I 0 being employed, and the 3 baflie I2 being located thereadjacent as indicated, the openings II are preferably directed toward the interior of the baflle. This baflle interior may be vented as at I2a, and clearance is provided between this baflle and the part 2 of the housing to permit as much flow through the auxiliary passage 1 as is'permitted by the openings 9 at the entrance to the auxiliary passage and the openings II adjacent the mouth of thepassage.

with the main passage having inlet communi- 5 cation with the ,fiush water stream from the supply line by way of the openings 9, leading by way of the chamber 4 past the baflle I2 through the openings II and thereupon having return communication with the main passage 6, at the mouth 5 oi! the tubular member 5. Also it is to be noted that the chamber 4 of the auxiliary passage is amply vented to the atmosphere.

In service the installation of the device is so made that the mouth of the tubular member 5 is substantially above the overflow line of the flxture to be served. Operation will be as follows:

Provided the line A be supplied with flushing water at Ya high pressure and the waste line C be clear, normal conditions thus prevailing, opening of the flush valve D" admits flush water under pressure to the vacuum breaker. A large part of this water travels straight through the breaker by way of the main passage 6. A part, however, enters the auxiliary passage by way of the openings 9 and is thereafter returned to the main passage by way of the openings l I. Such normal flushing flow is indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. 1. The level of liquid in the auxiliary passage may rise considerably during the flushing operation but the chamber 4 .is of sufiicient volume to take care of such water.

The return of water from the auxiliary passage in the main passage 6 supply line.

to the main passage is assisted by the described injector action at the lower end of the tubular member, so that rise in the chamber 4 is minimized. -The chamber 4 being always open to atmosphere by way of the large vent openings la, a gravity head is eilective upon water within .the auxiliary passage to movethis water in flushi 8 direction.

Suppose now the flush valve D be opened with pressure in the supply line A but with overflow conditions in the fixture B. The high velocity with the consequent injector effect upon flow in the auxiliary passage will prevent any backing up of contaminating water from the fixture to the supply line.

Suppose now normal conditions to exist in the supply-line A at the commencement of a flushing operation, but overflow conditions in the fixture, and that during such flushing operation a high vacuum, suddenly occurs in the supply line. Inertia of the flushing stream within the main passage 6 will continue that stream in motion toward the fixture. Such motion will tend, by the described injector eflect, to maintain flow in the auxiliary passage I toward the fixture. The atmospheric pressure only will exist within the chamber 4 because of the large area of the vent la relative to the combined areas of the openings 9. Consequently air will be drawn in through the vent openings la, into the chamber 4 and up into the line A through the openings 9,

as indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 1.

There will be no rise of water through the vacuum breaker, and the breaking in the vacuum will occur substantially at the openings 9 as before.

Suppose finally overflow conditions in the .flxture and a vacuum in the supply line A when the valve D is opened. The mouth of the tubular member 5 being-above the overflow line of the fixture, no waste water is siphoned up into the Instead, the supply line simply draws-in air through the vent la and openings 9 in broken lines in The simplicity of design of the vacuum breaker device is to be'observed. The device involves no moving parts. The tubular member 5 with all-of its associated parts carried thereby, may be removed as a unit upon disconnection between the supply pipe and the housing of the device. The device comprises simply two units,

the housing unit and the partition unit which provides temporary separation of main and auxiliary flushing streams as described.

With reference now to the modification of Figs. 5 to 'I, the housing unit parts include a pipe 5 22 and enlarged head part 23 forming a chamber 24 of substantial volume, there being vent openings Na in the part 23 efiective at the chamber 24.

Tubular means are disposed within the housing to provide a central main passage 26, and auxiliary passage 21 for flush water. The tubular means as here disclosed, comprises a rigid assembly of a head part 28, a mouth part 30 and a pipe part 25 threaded therebetween. The tubular means are supported by a flange 28a on the head part 28, the flange being peripherally secured between the member 23 oi. the housing and. the supply pipe A as before. Openings 29 are disposed about the head part 28 and overhung by a mask 2817, the mask being so disposed that fiush water flowing downwardly through the breaker, will by its inertia have little if any tendency to outflow through the openings 29. Preferably these openings are within the flange 25 part 2lb of the part 23 as indicated, whereby outflow through the openings 29 would be baflled against splashing through the vent 21a.

A flange 28c upon the head part 28 disposed within the chamber 24, masks the upper extrem- '30 ity of the straight part of the auxiliary passage 21 so that sudden or great upfiow through this straight part would not cause splash out through the vent opening 2la. The member 30 of the tubular means loosely fits within the pipe memher 22 of the housing, and has openings 3| permitting return fiow of flush water from the auxiliary passage to the main stream.

The member 39 extends downwardly beyond the member 25 for the purpose of determining 40 an elevation for the mouth of the pipe 25 above the overflow level of the fixture to be served. It

' is important for safety and code specifications that such distance be at least two inches; and= if the part 30 be omitted there is a tendency, from ignorance, that the pipe 22 might be shortened in making the installation.

Functioning of the device in its modified form will obviously be generally as in the form illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4 and heretofore described.

The principal difference will be that in this modification little if any of the flush water will pass down through the auxiliary passage, such amount always depending upon conditions or pressure differentials, and the modified form -flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated 10- cation,and ha ing return communication with 75 said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return communication.

2. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return communication, said auxiliary passage including an enlarged cavity elevated above said return and communicating with atmosphere by way of said vent.

3. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said auxiliary passage return and the parts being so proportioned and arranged that a flushing stream in one of said passages will tend to efiect confluence in the other passage during the flushing operation.

4. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker 'injector effect to cause a flushing stream in one of said passages to induce confluence in the other passage. 5. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed i the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the fiush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said auxiliarypassage return, the parts adjacent said return bein disposed to provide injector effect to cause a flushing stream in said main passage to induce confluence in said auxiliary passage.

6. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply-line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its fiush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an 5 auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with asection of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a lower elevation, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return and said breaker having its parts adjacent said return disposed to provide injector eflect to cause a flushing stream in one of said passages to induce confluence in the other passage, said auxiliary passage including an enlarged cavity elevated above said return and communicating with atmosphere by way of said vent.

7. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a straight downwardly directed main passage for flushing water, and an auxiliary passage for said water annularly disposed about said main passage, in bypass relation with a section of the latter, said auxiliary passage having inlet com-.30 munication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, and having return communication with said main passage at a. substantially lower elevation, said breakerhaving air vent means communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return, the parts of said breaker adjacent said return being disposed to provide means eflec-' tive to oppose reverse flow in either of said pas-,

sages during flushing fiow through the other. 4

8. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a downwardly directed through passage for flushing water and generally tubular means disposed in said passage to divide the latter into a central main passage and an auxiliary passage thereabout and in bypass relation with said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet connection with the fiush water stream adjacent the upper end of said tubular means and a return connection leading to said main passage adja-- cent the lower end of said tubular means, said breaker having air vent meanscommunicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return connection 9. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture. between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a downwardly directed through passage forflushing water and generally tubular means disposed in said passage to divide the latter into a central main passage and an auxiliary passage thereabout and in bypass relation with said main pas-' sage, said' auxiliary passage having inlet connection with the flush water stream adjacent the upper end of said'tubular means and a return connection leading to said main passage adjacent the lower end of said tubular means, said breaker having air vent means communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation sub stantially above said return connection, and said tubular means having its lower end part arranged to provide injector effect to cause flushing flow in said main passage to induce confluence in said auxiliary passage. 2

10. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed in v the flush water supply line of a closet or. like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and. its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a downwardly directed through passage for flushing water and generally tubular means disposed in said passage to divide the latter into a. central main passage and an auxiliary passage thereabout and. in bypass relation with said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet connection with the flush water stream adjacent the upper end of said tubular means and a return connection leading to said main passage adjacent the lower end of said tubular means, said breaker having air vent means communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially .above said return connection, and said tubular into a central main passage and an auxiliary passage 'thereabout and in bypass relation with said main passage, said tubular means having a perm-- rate head adjacent its upper'end peripherally secured in said housing and being mounted for upward removal from the'housing upon release of said head, said auxiliary passage having connection with the flush water stream by way of the perforations in said head, said breaker housing having air vent means communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return connection, and said tubular means having its lower end proportioned and arranged to be cooperative with said housing to cause flushing fiow in said main passage to induce confluence in said auxiliary passage.

12. A vacuum breaker adapted to be disposed 5 in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a main through passage for flushing water and an auxiliary passage for said water, in bypass relation with'a section of said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet communication with the flush water stream at an elevated location, andhaving return communication with said main passage at an elevation lower than that of said inlet but substantially above the overflow line of said fixture, said breaker having an air vent communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said return communication.

13. A vacuum breaker adapted to be positioned in the flush water supply line of a closet or like plumbing fixture, between the fixture and its flush valve in said line, said breaker having a downwardly directed through passage for flushmg water and generally tubular means disposed in said passage to divide the latter into a central main passage and an auxiliary passage thereabout and in bypass relation with said main passage, said auxiliary passage having inlet connection with the flush water stream adjacent the upper end of said tubular means, and having a return connection adjacent the lower end of said tubular means, said return connection being located substantially ,above the overflow line of said fixture, said breaker having air vent means communicating with said auxiliary passage at an elevation substantially above said re turn connection.

HENRY J. LUFF. 

